"I can't catch up!"

Tika panted as she ran after Ariana's carriage, which kept getting faster and further away from us.

Just then, I spotted a sturdy branch right in front of us. I instantly knew, "We are close enough."

I lurched forward and grabbed the branch, eyeing the movement of the wheels on the carriage.

"Steady Tika…"

Almost there… I was just waiting for the right moment to perfect my aim. I threw the branch.

The branch got caught with the spinning wheel, immediately breaking it as the carriage crashed to an end. Perfect. Just as I hoped.

I was so overjoyed I didn't even notice Ariana falling into the pig's pile of mud, splashing mud all over and getting drowned in the mud herself.

"Good job, Tika." I got down from her back, petting her ear.

We approached the stable so we could get a closer look at her. It was indeed a sight!

I crossed my arms, "I'm sure a mud bath must feel really relaxing! Especially after all your attempts to take over the kingdom!"

I saw her sneer at me, "Why you," She attempted to stand up but slipped right back into the mud.

Tika and I threw our heads back and laughed, just as Antonio approached us, "Ro!"

My face stilled as I turned to face him, "Your highness."

"Are you alright? Are you hurt?"

I resisted trying to roll my eyes, "I'm fine." There were more important matters at hand right now.

And luckily, he read my mind as he turned his attention to the mud-drenched Ariana trying to avoid contact with the pigs.

"Arrest her." He motioned to the guards, just as the king and queen and some other wedding guests arrived to watch the sight. I noticed many trying to hold back a laugh, I guess it's not everyday they find royals slathered in mud.

"I shall see to it that you are banished for good!" The king stormed as a couple of guards grabbed her by both arms. Antonio stood beside his father.

While the King's words with her created quite an audience, I decided to leave, knowing my job with her was done. I motioned to Tika, "Come on, Azul's still asleep!"

We rushed back to the greenhouse, grabbing more island roses while hoping we still have enough time to save the animals.

To our relief, soon the tonic was done and fed to Azul. I saw Frazer, the royal scientist, approach us, "We are so relieved you have a cure for the animals, Ro."

"I'm glad I could help."

He wrote something in his journal, then turned to me and said, "I must say, I owe you an apology for telling the king that it was you and your animals who brought the illness."

I felt a bit of anger and pain build inside me, "Thank you." I said simply, intending to change the subject, "Please tell me where I can find more island roses because there isn't enough to feed an entire kingdom of animals."

"Oh not to worry, I have already informed the royal vet, she's now working to produce enough tonic for all of them. And they should all be fed the tonic by sunset."

For the first time in a while, I felt true relief to know that now both Antonio's family and the animals were safe. All the pain, hurt and anger I endured in the last few hours were now gone. I sent Frazer a thankful smile and then one to my animal family, for all their help and what they had to put up through.

"Well, I believe everything turned out to be alright, after all." Sagi smiled at me.

"Yes." I breathed. "I'm so glad we made it in time and now all the animals will wake up."

Just then, I noticed Princess Luciana, looking out to the sea. She seemed…sad.

I felt my heart fill with some guilt. After all, Ariana was her mother...and now they probably won't see each other again. This pain felt even more real when I knew I didn't have a family either…and yet I made someone else lose it too. I had to talk to her.

"Princess Luciana…" I stepped close to her, "I'm sorry."

She shrugged and faced me, wiping a tear from her eye. "Oh Ro, don't be! I can't even imagine what would've happened if you didn't show up in time!" she quickly put on a smile then looked thankfully at Tika, "Especially you, Tika."

I was confused, "When did she see Tika?"

The Princess smiled at me again, this time her smile looking real rather than forced, "I must admit, losing my mother feels… awful but I can't believe she had been planning to kill everyone this whole time."

I remained quiet as she continued, "She was a very nice mother. She spoiled me with everything I ever wanted and always wished for great things to happen to me…she always made sure I was the perfect princess."

To hear her admire her mother made tears prick at the back of my eyes, "How could I do this to her…"

"But then again," she let out a long sigh, looking at the sky, "I feel like I got a new life, today. One where I am free to be who I want, know what's best for me and…marry somebody I love."

The last line made me raise an eyebrow as confusion etched over my face, "Did the wedding not happen? Did she not want to marry Antonio?"

"Um, of course but the thing you just said…"

"Yes?"

"Marry somebody you love?"

"Oh yes." she blushed. "And who loves me for me. Who shares similar interests and hobbies like me..."

"Prince Antonio?" I questioned her before even thinking, my face flushed red. "No, don't ask her!"

"Oh, no!" She chuckled, "We are nothing alike, Ro."

"So you didn't marry him?" I rose an eyebrow, I thought they already got married-

"Why don't you just ask him?" She smirked, her eyes glancing at a pair of approaching footsteps behind me. I turned around quickly, it was him. Antonio.

I felt the awkwardness ensue and my face heating up as I noticed my family and Princess Luciana moving away to the distance. As much I was flustered to not have anyone around me and Antonio, a part of me felt thankful for the privacy they wanted to offer us. We needed to have a moment just between us.

He faced me, his smile beaming, just like the night he saw me step down the stairs to join the ball. I felt that similar sense of nervousness envelop me as I stood there, not knowing what to say.

Luckily, he broke the silence for us, "Thank you, Ro. I can't even imagine what would've happened if you didn't return."

"It's nothing, Antonio…" I sent him a weak smile, "The animals should all be fed the tonic by sunset, I believe...and Ariana," I tried to change the subject but he knew me better than that.

"Yes." he cut me off, "She is not going to bother any of us anytime soon or in forever. " he chuckled, before grabbing both of my hands in his.

"Ro, now that everything's over…" He took a deep breath, "Now that…the wedding has been interrupted,"

"Oh, so they didn't get married!" A part of me rejoiced but I tried my best to not let it show.

"Will you-"

"Antonio, what do you think you are doing?!"

His father's voice stormed, interrupting what I thought would be our most special moment. Perhaps things were not over yet.

And I feared if they ever would be.

"Father," Antonio faced him, his voice defensive, "Don't you think you owe a proper apology to Ro, first?"

The king stilled for a moment then sighed, "I...believe so." He looked at me with an apologetic look, "Please forgive me, Ro, for everything you had to endure since you arrived in my kingdom." He continued, "I saw the worst in you without ever giving you a chance. You saved us from Ariana's schemes that could've all put us into grave danger."

The Queen stepped closer, "We owe you so much, my dear. Please forgive us. We have misjudged you terribly. "

I was overwhelmed to see the king and queen, both who couldn't bear to see me just a day ago, now ask for my forgiveness. I chuckled nervously, "Uh…I'm glad I could help."

"Welcome to Apollonia, Ro." The king put his arms around me, then whispered, "And welcome to our family…"

I froze in his embrace, "Did he mean…Antonio and I…"

The queen hugged me next, then turned to Antonio, his eyes filled with adoration as he watched his parents finally welcome and accept me as who I am, a shipwrecked girl from an island with no name, no parents and no knowledge of my past.

"We bestow all our blessings upon you and my son. You two share such deep affection and love towards each other, one that I believed was never as important as a royal marriage that aligns two kingdoms."

I bowed to the king and queen and Antonio embraced his father, "Thank you, father. Thank you so much for understanding how much I need her."

I felt my eyes tear with joy as the dispute between his parents and him were finally over.

The king and queen then walked away, once again leaving the two of us alone. However this time, I didn't feel that familiar sense of shyness embrace me when I looked into his eyes. In fact when I looked into his eyes, I felt...perfect.

I gasped as I felt myself being lifted off as he spun me around, both of us laughing. Being in the air felt like I was once again on the island, jumping off cliffs and swinging with vines, experiencing utter rejoice and excitement.

He put me back on the ground and before anything after, his lips were on top of mine. I took in the foreign sensation of his lips on me, moving down my face, neck as his hands stopped at my waist. Gently, he pulled away, which instantly made me long for more.

"I love you." He breathed, caressing my cheek.

My heart fluttered," I love you...too, Antonio."

He chucked and closed the distance between us in an embrace. I laid my head on top of his chest, my hands wrapping around him tightly because I'd never let go. He was mine this time.

I recalled the day when we first met, and how shocked we both were to see each other. For the first time in my life, I saw someone who looked like me and he stared at me amazed, as I tackled the crocodiles away from him. It was the first time we looked into each other's eyes when I knew there was something more than just curiosity but the longing to get to know him more and the world he came from.

And now all the barriers between us were lifted and we were free. We were free to be together and free to love. We were free to discover a new horizon and find new adventures. It was the start of something so new, beautiful and pure.

And I guess I finally found the answers to all of my questions.

…

A/N : Hi! Haven't updated this for so long! It's good to be writing again!

Did you like the little change I put in the story ;)? For those of you wondering, where is the reunion between Ro's mother and her… I'll make a separate chapter for it. I think Ro finding her mother is a very pivotal moment in the story and to have it stuffed in the same few minutes where she is proposed and accepted by Antonio's parents…I didn't like it...too much in oneday. I also didn't like how she finds out she's a princess just after all she did to save the kingdom…so yeah, Ro will find her mother but it can be a bit later on, right?

Thank you everyone who have reviewed, faved and followed! Please tell me what I should write next!